Glyphic Entertainment: Hi everyone! I'll be stopping by frequently to answer most questions concerning the development of Warlords DS over the next several months.
Firstly, the screen shots that are available at this time are using developer graphics - placeholders if you will. Those graphics will change dramatically before Beta release.
Warlords DS uses the same design philosophy that Warlords 2 did. Gameplay will be similar, as will the visual presentation, but every portion of the game is being modernized and will raise the bar for strategy games on the Nintendo DS platform. AI will be addressed heavily, improving on an already very successful implementation.
As was mentioned, the Nintendo DS doesn't provide (or permit) downloading of additional content, so any additional scenarios will be sold as a separate product through the publisher - Strategy First.
We think Warlords DS is going to be a huge hit in the DS market, and its fans like yourselves that will help make that a reality!
1) Have you set any tentative goals for a release date? Is a 2007 release plausible?
Glyphic E: Expected release date is summer, 2007
2) Is the DS version based off the Pocket PC port of Warlord II? If so, is there any changes/improvements we can expect in comparison to that?
Glyphic E: Warlords DS is based heavily on the PPC version of W2 which made many bug fixes for stability and provided enhanced AI. Some of the improvements to this are:
- All new interface
- All new combat view
- Modernized graphics (everything including terrain and units)
- Enhanced diplomacy using 'bad boy' points for relations
- Much better end-game AI and financial handling
- City defence building (ala W1)
- Vectoring options - no vectoring, normal 1 turn vectoring or realistic vectoring where unit movement is timed by best case pathing
[Note: vectoring = setting up units produced at a castle to be shipped directly upon completion to another player owned castle. "1 turn vectoring" refers to how long the shipment process will take]
- Undo move feature (not on attacks)
- Turn timer option
3a) You've said that Warlords DS has "Up to 8 players with hot-seat and Nintendo WiFi support." 'Nintendo WiFi' means 'online multiplayer,' correct?
Glyphic E: Yes
3b) If online, can we expect voice chat during matches, and/or in hosting lobbies?
Glyphic E: I can't comment on these possibilities at this time.
3c) Also, will there be any option for random matches? I'm a little concerned about players dropping out unpunished or taking too long during turns online.
Glyphic E: Random worlds will be the norm, not the exception. The Host will have the option of allowing the AI to take over when a player drops, as well as allowing a player to join in during an existing game (planned).
4) Will there be an option to save multiplayer matches to continue later? This goes for online matches too, if they happen to be supported.
Glyphic E: The Host will be able to save one game of each type - single player, scenario and campaign.
5) Will random maps be playable over Wifi(/online), or will we be limited to pre-built maps? Also, can we save random maps?
Glyphic E: See 3C. The Host will save the game which includes the map.
6) As I recall, Warlords II on the Mac (the version I'm most familiar with) had alternative army/castle graphics you could choose. Any chance those will make it into Warlords DS?
Glyphic E: Scenarios may/will have alternate terrain/unit sets, however random maps will only feature a default unit set for this release.
7) What about the music? I loved a lot of those old midi tunes on the Mac. Will they be included and/or remixed?
Glyphic E: There will be music. It has not been determined who will be doing the tunes yet.
8) Is Stephen Fawkner, or any other of Warlords II's creators playing a role in the development? Any details would be much appreciated.
Stephen Fawkner: As for my role in it... well I've known GR [Moore] for many years now, and I know that he and Glyphic will do an exceptional job with this game. Even so, I'll be playing it and offering any suggestions if they are needed.
Glyphic have plans for significant updates in quite a few areas, so you'll be seeing something that really takes advantage of the DS's capabilities, while remaining very streamlined and easy to play like the original game.
I'd also suggest you check out "Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords" on DS when it releases in March [which looks kickass if you missed it]. It's got a lot of depth to it - a surprising amount for a puzzle game (in many ways it really is a strategy game in "puzzle clothing").
9) Will we still be able to set movement paths, then select 'move all units' in the following turns?
Glyphic E: Yes
10) Will a map editor, like in Warlords II deluxe, be included?
Glyphic E: No. We will be enlisting the help of some Warlord fans to create the Scenarios for this project in the near future.
11) In the Mac version, you could click and drag your magnifying glass around on the mini map to move your view around. But in the PC one (as I recall) you could only click to center it (and would also need to wait for the view box to move there). Which example is Warlords DS following?
Glyphic E: It will be a dragging viewer as you describe for the Mac, and was used on the PPC version of W2
12) Are there any plans to spruce up the battle sequences? Possibly make things look a little more lively? Replacing the default death image (the fireball/explosion thingy) with an animated slash, hit, magic or fireball sprite (for when the dragon kills, of course) would be more than enough to address my minor gripe. Also, will we still be able to speed up the battles (presumably by tapping the screen)?
Glyphic E: The combat view will be all new. Sorry, I can't give details on it at this time though.
13) And finally, PLEASE include the first Warlord's map! Seeing the original names (Orcs of Kor, Storm Giants, Grey Dwarfs, etc) in your screenshot got me thrilled about the idea. It'd also be a great throwback to use the classic trumpet war sound from the first in that map as well.
Glyphic E: I think a map of Illuria is a must have!
I'm just curious, why is it Warlords 2? Why not Warlords 3?
Glyphic E: In my opinion, Warlords 2 is the peak of the series [damn straight] and fits very nicely with the DS technology
I too am interested in the MP portion and how it will work.
Glyphic E: An option will be provided for setting time limits on turns. That being said, you won't be locked down simply waiting for the other players to finish thier turns. You will be able to view reports, history, plan your turns, view the map, etc.
As a minimum the random map generator would need to do the following...
Glyphic E: We corrected a number of issues in the random map generation, so a balanced map shouldn't be an issue.
Message Edited by crispy4001 on 01-22-2007 09:32 PM
